Brazil cotton exports hit monthly record

Brazil's cotton exports rose by 180pc to a monthly record in January, while overseas shipments of soybean and corn dropped.

Cotton exports totaled 310,000t in January, compared with 110.000t the same month a year earlier, the economy ministry said today.

Soybean shipments decreased by 31pc to 1.5mn t in January. Corn exports fell by 46pc to 2.3mn t, the ministry said.

Brazil's cotton shipments have been strong after a record harvest last year, whereas exports of soybeans and corn faced seasonal weakness in January ahead of the harvest of both crops in coming months.

Brazil is the top global exporter of the oilseed and the second-largest exporter of corn and cotton.

The country also posted overseas sales of 1mn t of soymeal, 301,000t of poultry, 117,000t of beef and 59,250t of pork last month, according to the official data.

José Roberto Gomes